Aizawl, Dec 3 : The ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) on Sunday praised Lal Thanhawla-led Congress government in the state for implementing development projects under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR).

A few days ago, DoNER minister Paban Singh Ghatowar had in Parliament said there were backlogs in implementing projects under NLCPR, including those sanctioned in 2009.

Addressing mediapersons in Aizawl, Ghatowar said implementation of projects by the ministry under NLCPR improved considerably during the Congress regime in Mizoram. Asked about his earlier criticism, Ghatowar said situation improved remarkably during the past three years.

The DoNER minister further said since he joined the ministry, the state government has not defaulted. Ghatowar said 125 projects had been sanctioned for Mizoram under NLCPR at a total cost of Rs 1,039.67 crore. Of these, the state government has completed 65 projects at a cost of Rs 393.40 crore and there were 60 projects worth Rs 646.27 crore at various stages of implementation.

"There are 50 projects worth Rs 444 crore in the pipeline for sanction by the ministry, which include 14 new project proposals by the state retained by the ministry for possible funding," he said.

The minister, who arrived here on Saturday, toured Saiha, Lawngtlai and Lunglei districts in south Mizoram in a helicopter. He laid foundation stones of different infrastructure projects worth around Rs 81.39 crore.